Neoregelia plant named ‘Minerva’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Neoregelia  plant named ‘Minerva’, characterized by its broad and outwardly arching growth habit; relatively broad leaves that are outwardly arching and recurved in aspect; glossy leaves that are greyed yellow in color with distinct medium and dark green-colored longitudinal stripes, dark green-colored margins and purplish red-colored apices; upper (younger) leaves are mostly purplish deep red in color; flower development is not required for purplish red color development; and good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia hybrida ‘Medium Rare’ X Neoregelia magdalenae).

Cultivar denomination: ‘MINERVA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Neoregelia plant, botanically known as Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia hybrida ‘Medium Rare’ X Neoregelia magdalenae), and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Minerva’.

The new Neoregelia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Princeton, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Neoregelia plants with uniquely colored leaves.

The new Neoregelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2009 in Princeton, Fla. of an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia carolinae, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia hybrida ‘Medium Rare’ X Neoregelia magdalenae, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Neoregelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Princeton, Fla. in 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Neoregelia plant by offsets in a controlled environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2010, has shown that the unique features of this new Neoregelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Neoregelia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Minerva’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Minerva’ as a new and distinct Neoregelia plant:

-   -   1. Broad and outwardly arching growth habit.     -   2. Relatively broad leaves that are outwardly arching and         recurved in aspect.     -   3. Glossy leaves that are greyed yellow in color with distinct         medium and dark green-colored longitudinal stripes, dark         green-colored margins and purplish red-colored apices; upper         (younger) leaves are mostly purplish deep red in color; flower         development is not required for purplish red color development.     -   4. Good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia have stable         variegation whereas leaves of plants of the female parent         selection do not have stable variegation.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop purplish red         coloration without flower development whereas flowering is         required for orange coloration to develop on leaves of plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia begin to develop         purplish red coloration about four months after planting whereas         leaves of plants of the male parent selection begin to develop         purplish red coloration after about twelve months after         planting.     -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and the male parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the new Neoregelia are greyed         yellow in color with distinct medium and dark green-colored         longitudinal stripes, dark green-colored margins and purplish         red-colored apices whereas leaves of plants of the male parent         selection are solid green in color.

Plants of the new Neoregelia can be compared to plants of the Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia macrosepala x Neoregelia meyendorfii) ‘Magnifica’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,215. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Magnifica’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop purplish red         coloration earlier than and without flower development whereas         flowering is required for coloration to develop on leaves of         plants of ‘Magnifica’.     -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Magnifica’ differ in leaf         color as plants of the new Neoregelia are greyed yellow in color         with distinct medium and dark green-colored longitudinal         stripes, dark green-colored margins and purplish red-colored         apices whereas leaves of plants of ‘Magnifica’ are yellowish         white in color with distinct medium green-colored stripes and         dark-green margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Neoregelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Neoregelia plant. The photograph is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Minerva’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe flowering plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered greenhouse in Princeton, Fla. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Neoregelia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 28° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 2,500 foot-candles. Plants were twelve months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia hybrida     ‘Medium Rare’ X Neoregelia magdalenae) ‘Minerva’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Neoregelia carolinae, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Neoregelia hybrida ‘Medium Rare’ X Neoregelia magdalenae,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By offsets.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 days at ambient             temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 40 days at ambient             temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             months at ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             beige to brown in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broad and outwardly arching growth             habit; leaves in rosettes; plants readily produce uniform             offsets; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 11 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 43.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.75 mm.         -   Stem diameter at the soil level.—About 3.75 cm.         -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Stem color.—Close to NN155A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; simple; sessile,             clasping.         -   Shape.—Broadly oblong with broader sheathing base.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate to aristate.         -   Base.—Truncate, clasping.         -   Margin.—Senate, spinose.         -   Length.—About 29.5 cm.         -   Width, mid-section.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Width, widest part towards the base, flattened.—About 8.25             cm.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; leathery; narrowly and longitudinally ribbed;             glossy, shiny.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Upper (younger) leaves, upper surface: Distally,             close to 58A and proximally, close to N155B; venation,             similar to lamina colors. Upper (younger) leaves, lower             surface: Distally, close to 58A and proximally, close to             N155B to N155C; venation, similar to lamina colors. Lower             (older) leaves, upper surface: Centers: Close to 160C and             160D. Longitudinal stripes: Close to 146A, 147A and NN137A.             Margins: Close to 147A and NN137A. Towards the apex: Close             to 58A; younger leaves have more purplish red coloration             than older leaves; oldest leaves may have little to no             purplish red coloration. Towards the base: Close to 146B to             146C with longitudinal stripes, close to 146B. Venation:             Similar to lamina colors. Lower (older) leaves, lower             surface: Centers: Close to 160C and 160D. Longitudinal             stripes: Close to 144A, 146A, 147A, NN137A and NN137B.             Margins: Close to 147A, NN137A and NN137B. Towards the apex:             Close to 160C to 160D. Towards the base: Close to 146C and             146D with longitudinal stripes, close to 146C. Venation:             Similar to lamina colors. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence form.—Terminal flat-topped compact corymb             located inside the leaf rosette; about 88 flowers develop             per inflorescence.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 60 to 70 days             weeks after planting; plants flower naturally during the             spring in Florida.         -   Flower longevity.—Dependent on temperature, individual             flowers last about four to six days on the plant; flowers             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.9 cm.         -   Flower size.—Length: About 4.25 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl; lower             75% of the petals are fused. Shape, free part: Lanceolate.             Apex: Sharply acuminate. Margin: Entire. Length: About 3 cm.             Width at base of free part: About 3 mm. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper (inner) surface:             Distally, close to 93D and proximally, close to NN155D. When             opening and fully opened, lower (outer) surface: Distally,             close to 93C and proximally, close to NN155D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: One. Shape: Narrowly             lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: About 4 cm.             Width: About 1 cm. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Membranous and translucent; slightly glossy.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; towards             the apex, close to 144A to 144B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl; lower             50% of the sepals are fused. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate.             Apex: Acuminate. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 5 mm.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Free part, close to 144A and fused part, close to             NN155D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Strength: Strong, sturdy. Aspect: Typically erect. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to             NN155D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm by             3 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Depending on             position in the inflorescence, typically erect to outwardly             and curving upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color: Close to NN155D.         -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Six. Filament length: About             1.1 cm; partially adnate to the petals. Filament color:             Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length:             About 2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 158C. Pollen amount:             None observed.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             1.75 cm. Stigma shape: Elongated oblong. Stigma color: Close             to 157B to 157C. Style length: About 1.25 cm. Style color:             Close to NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 155A to 155B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed production have             not been observed on plants of the new Neoregelia. -   Interior & garden performance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have     been observed to have good postproduction longevity under interior     conditions, to have good garden performance and to tolerate     temperatures ranging from 2° C. to 37° C. -   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Neoregelia are     relatively tolerant to Pythium (Pythium spp.) and Phytophtora     (Phytophtora cinnamoni). To date, tolerance to pests and other     pathogens common to Neoregelia plants has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Neoregelia plant named ‘Minerva’ as illustrated and described. 